Cricklewood Coffee Roasters
A small pop-up coffee van, appearing at Cricklewood Station most weekdays between 6:30am-12pm.
Owner: James
How long have you been running your business for?
I started making coffee from the Cricklewood Station around 1 year ago, but I started roasting my own ethically and sustainable coffee beans in January of 2017.
How did you get the idea of starting ‘Cricklewood Coffee Roasters’?
I was helping the local’s build and plant the garden next to my van, and I saw the empty space and thought I could utilise it with something that was certainly missing from this station, which was a coffee shop. It wasn’t an idea I had always had or anything, but I did always want to learn more about the coffee industry and I wanted to find a way to be more involved with, and connect the local community more. I live in Cricklewood, so I certainly support the idea of building the community up and everyone supporting local business, this is mainly what my business is based around. I did originally go by the name of ‘Cricklewood Coffee’, but since I started making my own coffee I have changed it to ‘Cricklewood Coffee Roasters’.
Do you do any other events or locations?
I do the odd local event here and there, but Cricklewood Station is the only location that I am at regularly. I did a karate event last weekend, and I try to go down to the MS society at least once a week, usually Thursday nights. I can be booked for any event around the North West area, but I am mainly based within the Brent Council area as that is where my business trading license is for.
What is your favourite thing about doing this?
I love the simplicity of the business; the process of roasting my own coffee beans then actually making the coffee. I also love the people that I meet on a daily basis, including my regular customers, and that people are happy when they buy coffee. It might seem like a basic business, but it is a very rewarding one. I have also been featured on the ‘Best Coffee App’, which only features coffee worth checking out in all areas of London, and I am the only business in Cricklewood that is on there, so that is a real honour for me!
What is next for you and Cricklewood Coffee?
I am mainly working on finding wholesale customers that will stock my coffee beans. I am finding it hard to break into established business as they usually have deals with the bigger brands on this, but I would love to get 5-6 business to regularly stock my beans then I could expand my business more which is what I would love to do. I have been offered a local warehouse to brew my coffee beans, but I can’t do that until I have enough businesses to roast it for.
What other products/deals do you offer your customers?
I offer a range of my roasted coffee beans, the I Heart Cricklewood mugs, my own tote bags, plus pre-paid coffee cards in which you can purchased for £20-£25 and you get 10 coffees on the card. I also stock another local businesses honey, which is called North West Raw Honey. I will be advertising some gift bags over the next few days for Christmas, which will contain a couple of of the above products plus my coffee beans. I am also looking at making my own ceramic cups early next year, as my wife is a potter, so watch this space.
If you would like to book Cricklewood Coffee Roasters for an event, or purchase some of his coffee, you can email him on james@cricklewoodcoffee.co and his website is shop.cricklewoodcoffee.co. He can also be found on the ‘Best Coffee App’ on your App Store.